17th May, 2012
The Lagos State Government is currently moving to phase out the use of kerosene by households in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.
The government plans to intensify mass production of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas, LPG so that at least one million homes in Lagos could have access to LPG in the next few years and desist from using kerosene for cooking.
Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Taofiq Tijani disclosed this on Wednesday in Lagos, saying that government plans to phase out the use of kerosene for cooking in households gradually with mass production 3kg LPG to be used by households.
According to him, kerosene is being used in the aviation industry and was not meant for cooking as being done in Nigeria, saying that LPG was best for cooking and should be adopted by all households in Lagos State.
Tijani said the government has developed a suitable gas master plan for the state, while adding that the LPG had been adopted as preferred fuel for cooking in Lagos instead of kerosene.
He stated the government had already produced prototype cylinders for use in homes, adding that the location of Lagos State along the coast made it very suitable since the product could be brought in through the seaport.
Tijani said government in collaboration with stakeholders was creating awareness for Lagosians to embrace the use of LPG in their homes as this has environmental and economic advantages.
The commissioner disclosed that investors in the LPG project were already installing facilities that would enable the project take off and that as soon as it starts, it would become easier for consumers to purchase gas according to cash on hand unlike the current requirement to fill up the cylinder.
Tijani also disclosed that the Lagos Bus Services, LAGBUS mass transit as well as generating sets would soon run on Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, saying that the state government was already perfecting plans to that effect.
He stated that government plans to phase out the use of generators in the state because of its adverse impact on the environment, adding that the CNG would initially be piped underground to the various yards of LAGBUS for all the buses before it would be introduced to other public vehicles.
Tijani stated that government was already engaging investors who had come forward to show interest in the project, saying that the best proposal would be given utmost consideration.
He also said the state is endowed with abundant mineral resources, saying that study had begun to identify all the potential mineral resources of the state with a view to harnessing them.
“Past research works have indicated the existence of industrial minerals which include clay sand, construction sand and Bitumen deposit,” he said, while reiterating government’s commitment to regulate sand dealing activities in the state through the enforcement of mining laws.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga